Kaufmann eschews traditional water heaters in favor of tankless versions that conserve energy and save money. “Another advantage to this technology is that you can never run out of hot water,” she says. Her favorite brand, Takagi, manufactures models with a variety of capacities. Takagi Industrial Co. USA, 888.882.5244; www.takagi.com.

michelle kaufmann designs oakland, calif.

michelle kaufmann, aia www.mkd-arc.com